Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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What is FOREST EUROPE?

FOREST EUROPE (The brand name of the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe) is the pan-European voluntary high-level political process for dialogue and cooperation on forest policies in Europe. FOREST EUROPE develops common strategies for its 47 signatories (46 European countries and the European Union) on how to protect and sustainably manage their forests.

What is unique about this process?

What is unique about FOREST EUROPE is that the process has maintained its open and informal nature coupled with the high-level political grounding. It is widely believed that this combination has allowed – and will continue allowing this process to effectively respond to current and emerging challenges and issues with impact on forests, forestry and forest-related human activities.

How does FOREST EUROPE work?

FOREST EUROPE is a process without any permanent institutional structures and is widely viewed as open, flexible and informal. The rolling multi-annual work programme is predominately funded by signatory countries and the European Union and participating international observer organizations.

How is the process financed?

There is a small pooled budget to partially cover implementation of core activities of the FOREST EUROPE Work Programme, organisation of meetings and workshops, publications, communications and maintenance of the secretariat called Liaison Unit. This budget is made up of financial contributions received from five countries of the General Coordinating Committee (GCC). Besides member countries of the GCC, also other signatories of the FOREST EUROPE process provide voluntary contributions.

Who attends FOREST EUROPE meetings?

Participation at meetings held under the FOREST EUROPE process is restricted to delegates of the FOREST EUROPE signatories and representatives of non-European countries and international organizations with a recognized observer status of the process. Meetings on specific topics of political, scientific or technical nature (such as meetings of working/expert groups, seminars and workshops) are attended, besides representatives of the FOREST EUROPE process, by nominated experts from specific areas depending on specific topics of interest.

Who benefits from Sustainable Forest Management?

Sustainable Forest Management is a widely accepted concept that has its grounding in United Nations commitments and efforts. It is inherently linked to the broader socio-economic development and well-being of the society. It implies that forest resources and forest lands are managed in a sustainable way to meet the social, economic, ecological, cultural and spiritual human needs of present and future generations.

What are the benefits of European forests for human health and well-being?

In addition to enhancing health, forests help us to discover the beauty of nature in all its glory. Forests are ideal for walking, hiking, biking, skiing and exploring the bounty of nature. Forests also allow us to meditate in a calming and stimulating environment. Being in nature, the human organism returns to its original environment. This has a very positive impact on the immune system, stress resilience and overall well-being. The benefits of European forests for human health and well-being have been addressed in Madrid Ministerial Resolution 1.

What are National Forest Programmes?

A framework for implementation of sustainable forest management (SFM) at national level. It highlights the importance of multi-functional tasks of forests and their sustainable management for the society. It underlines the need for coordination, communication, cooperation and cohesion in all areas and policies related to forests and forestry. A common approach of the European countries to National Forest Programmes was agreed in Vienna in 2003 (Vienna Resolution V1).